However, there's another set of zeros that had he and linemates Konstantin Pushkarev and Tyrel Lucas grinning following last night's 3-1 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Hitmen line prevented Brandon's explosive trio of Ryan White, Derek LeBlance and Lance Monych from registering an even-strength point, which thrilled O'Malley.

"It's huge if we can keep them to the perimeter," he said.

"Nine of out 10 times, Justin Pogge's going to stop those shots."

Even better for O'Malley is the fact he finally cracked his own personal goose-egg.

Until last night's game, the overager's offensive numbers during the playoffs were downright grim.

No goals. No assists. Nothing doing.

It was a little bit of a fluke his pass ricocheted off a Brandon defender right to Pushkarev's stick -- which was promptly put in the net for the game-winning goal -- but O'Malley finally registered an assist.

"I'll take those any way they come," he said. "But I'm not as worried about my points as everyone else."

He almost ended his goal-scoring drought -- now at 20 games -- with an empty net in front of him and a pass en route from Lucas in the dying seconds.

O'Malley never got a piece of the puck because Brandon defenceman Daryl Boyle slashed his stick to pieces.